{"id":3015,"date":"2023-09-27T19:03:40","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T19:03:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3015"},"modified":"2023-10-05T16:27:30","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T16:27:30","slug":"1-october-2023-how-do-we-get-to-know-god","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3015","title":{"rendered":"1 October 2023: How do we get to know God? (part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:26% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"634\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/paper-cross.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2285 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/paper-cross.jpg 634w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/paper-cross-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/paper-cross-24x13.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/paper-cross-36x19.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/paper-cross-48x26.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 634px) 100vw, 634px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>1 October 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3010\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3020\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cWe are connected to the Lord by His Holy Spirit whose power is evident in our lives. Let\u2019s stay connected and adore Him at all times for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.\u201d<br><\/em><br>Stella<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"David Ruis   Father of Creation with lyrics\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WFNHvwDVjtI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sup>Songwriters: David Ruis. For non-commercial use only.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How do we get to know God?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We finished off last week by stating that it is not enough to know God exists, we must get to know Him personally! How does a person get to know God personally, intimately? If we want to get to know another person we communicate with that person which means spending time with them; likewise, with God. And the good news is that God has communicated much about Himself especially in His Word, the Scriptures. So, we need to find out what He has revealed about Himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there is more to it than that for we are told that naturally speaking we cannot understand the things of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> For since in the wisdom of God the world&nbsp;through its wisdom did not know Him \u2026 the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know&nbsp;<em>them,<\/em>&nbsp;because they are spiritually discerned.<\/p>\n<cite>1 Corinthians 1:21, 2:14<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So we need the Holy Spirit to help us. Before we can receive the Holy Spirit, our sins have to be dealt with. Isaiah indicates how sin breaks the communication with God:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surely the arm of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. <\/p>\n<cite>Isaiah 59:1-2<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John the Baptist first spoke of Jesus:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, \u2018Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.<\/p>\n<cite>John 1:29<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He is the \u2018Lamb\u2019 who has been sacrificed for us, sacrificed in our place, so we need to come to Him like they came to Him in the NT, e.g., Blind Bartimaeus shouts out to Jesus several times,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Jesus \u2026 have mercy on me.&#8221;<\/p>\n<cite>Luke 18:38-39 cf. Mark 10:47-48<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We read that,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus said to him,&nbsp;\u2018Receive your sight; your faith has <strong>healed<\/strong> you\u2019.<\/p>\n<cite>Luke 18:42<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The word for \u2018healed\u2019 here also means \u2018saved\u2019 as used in e.g.,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus,&nbsp;because He will <strong>save<\/strong> His people from their sins.<\/p>\n<cite>Matt. 1:21<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And we have evidence that this man was saved from his sins as well as healed of his blindness for,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Immediately he received his sight and <strong>followed Jesus, praising God<\/strong>. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. <\/p>\n<cite>Luke 18:43<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s what Christians do, they follow Jesus and praise God! Later, believers received the Holy Spirit following the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (see Acts chapter 2). Until then the Spirit had not been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice,&nbsp;\u2018Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.<strong><sup>&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.\u2019<strong><sup>&nbsp;<\/sup><\/strong>By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.<\/p>\n<cite>John 7:37-39<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Person of the Holy Spirit living in the believer\u2019s heart (cf. Rom. 5:5; 8:9) is what makes all the difference for those who have faith in Jesus Christ. Then you will know that God exists; Then you will know Him personally; and then you will know Him as intimately as you so desire, Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote<\/strong><strong> of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cHow much more of God is disclosed by the cross of Jesus than by a star-lit sky.\u201d<\/em><br><br>Bruce Milne, <a href=\"https:\/\/issuu.com\/equippersfellowship\/docs\/know_the_truth_-_bruce_milne\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Know the truth<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse<\/strong><strong> of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He who has seen me has seen the Father. <\/p>\n<cite>John 14:10<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You that You have revealed Yourself, and made a way back to Yourself, that we can know You intimately in and through Your Son and the enablement of Your Holy Spirit. Help us to daily walk with You and draw close to You in Jesus Christ, Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome \u201cWe are connected to the Lord by His Holy Spirit whose power is evident in our lives. Let\u2019s stay connected and adore Him at all times for He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.\u201dStella Worship Word How do we get to know God? We finished off last week by stating that &#8230; <a title=\"1 October 2023: How do we get to know God? (part 1)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3015\" aria-label=\"Read more about 1 October 2023: How do we get to know God? (part 1)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3015","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3015"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3024,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3015\/revisions\/3024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}